Every year, feminist advocates and supporters of women’s rights will congregate across the Klang Valley as part of the annual Women’s March event, which was held outside the premises of Sogo mall last Sunday (March 12th, 2023), along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Drawing a crowd of people from all races, backgrounds and ages, the congregation marched towards Dataran Merdeka located 1 kilometre away while chanting for changes in government policy and law.
Women’s March 2023 held in Sogo last Sunday led to police investigation
As part of this year’s March, event organisers were pushing for a list of nine demands, which included the ending of child marriages in the country, equal pay with men, protection of bodily autonomy, and the ending of violence against all oppressed genders and sexual minorities, among others.
And while the event had run its full course without much incident on the day itself, a police investigation was subsequently made into the Women’s March by local authorities after the fact. As reported by Malay Mail, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya said that investigation papers were opened in connection to the organising of an assembly and a march.
“At 10am, an assembly and a march were detected to have been held in the federal capital without following provisions of the law.
“Based on police observation, the participants were found to have gathered and marched while holding placards with words like ‘Imagine If Men Are As Disgusted With Rapes As With Periods, Child Not Pride, Trans Women Are Women, Police Your Behaviour Not My Body’ and others,” he said.
Investigations are currently being carried out under Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1995, and the police are in the process of identifying those involved.
Matter was subsequently raised in Parliament
The March was also brought up in Parliament by Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and Kuantan MP Wan Razali Wan Nor. Fadhli asked as to whether harsher legislation will be introduced by the government to curb the rise of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movements that go against the conservative grain of Malaysia.
Razali on the other hand, brought up a viral video that was allegedly obtained during the Women’s March and asked about the government’s stance on the matter, claiming that the event had obtained permission from the authorities to proceed despite being organised by members of the LGBT community.
“Previously, the Prime Minister said that the country would never recognise LGBT groups. So why is there an LGBT march by supporters?” he asked.
In response, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul had asked if he was certain that the march was indeed an LGBT gathering.
“Are you absolutely sure that the march was for the LGBT? Everyone else, remain silent.
I just want to know about that comment. Are you sure? If you are sure, say ‘sure’. If you are not, say that you are not.” Johari said.
While Razali said that LGBT members were ‘together’ at the march, Johari reiterated on wanting confirmation on the MP’s remarks.
“If you say ‘yes’ and I check and find out that it isn’t, action will be taken against you. Is it a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’? Or are you unsure?”
Razali then admitted that he was unsure, and was subsequently ordered to retract his statement. The Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) has been instructed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Na’im Mokhtar to assist police investigations into the March.
NST reports that organisers have condemned the investigation into the March, and expressed their disappointment at being penalised for exercising their democratic rights, while claiming that they have taken all necessary steps to inform local authorities of the event, while following stipulated regulations.
